To me, Classic Rock is the music from the British Invasion in February 1964 with the introduction of The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, forward until 1979. Everyone knows that without The Beatles, none of the bands below would exist. I’m not including The Rolling Stones, The Who, or Led Zeppelin, in the list because everyone knows their songs. I wanted to highlight other great bands that you’ve never heard of or maybe you have forgotten them. In February 1964 I was 7, so I grew up listening to all these great bands on the radio. Drugs and alcohol played a big part in this music and it destroyed the lives of many outstanding musicians of this era. Terry Kath, of the band Chicago, comes to mind. He was a fabulous guitarist, vocalist, and composer whose life ended with an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot to the head in 1978. He was one week short of his thirty-second birthday. (Chicago’s Terry Kath: A wild life and a violent death | Louder)
Another influential vocalist, guitarist, and composer whose life was also tragically cut short by booze and drugs was Steve Marriott of Small Faces and Humble Pie. I thought that “Itchykoo Park” was a beautiful park somewhere that was “all to beautiful.” It was 1967, I was eleven. I didn’t know what the song was really about. It was the music they played on AM radio, and I liked it. Mr. Marriott had a great rock voice, and he inspired many who came after him. Some musicians at the time stated that they wanted to be him or be like him. In 1991, he died a horrific death in his own house at age forty-four. Authorities believe that he had been drinking heavily, lit a cigarette, fell asleep, and his house went up in flames. A firefighter said that they found Mr. Marriott on the floor next to the bed. He died without a will. I’m bringing him up because I read an article that said his third wife was going to release some of his unrecorded songs with the help of AI (Steve Marriott’s Children Fight to Stop AI-Generated Songs). His four children don’t want their stepmother to do this but she alone inherited his estate, so his children really don’t have any rights to their father’s estate. As far as AI is concerned, I’m sure that no artist would want their voice, music, or likeness to be used without their personal permission. I’m sure that Mr. Marriott could not have foreseen this. Welcome to the twenty-first century!
I included “The Beatles – Now And Then” because it used AI in a loving way to memorialize John Lennon and George Harrison. It memorializes all of them really. To me, especially the last frames of the music video where the fab four bow and the lights go out, John, Paul, George and Ringo, are saying thank you and good-bye to all of us who loved them. This IS the end of an era. It makes me tear up because I miss those young, beautiful faces so much! And I miss the music that defined my generation. Besides sex, booze, and drugs, we also had “Make Love, Not War.” There is no denying that the Baby Boomer generation is coming to an end but no one can deny that our music was legendary and hopefully will live on for future generations to enjoy!
The Beatles – Now And Then (Official Music Video)
The Beatles – Now And Then (Official Music Video) – YouTube
The Small Faces – Itchykoo Park 1967 (Steve Marriott)
The Small Faces – Itchykoo Park (1967) – YouTube
The Small Faces – Tin Soldier 1967 (Steve Marriott)
The Small Faces – Tin Soldier (1967)
Chicago – 25 or 6 to 4 – 7/21/1970 – Tanglewood (Terry Kath)
Chicago – 25 or 6 to 4 – 7/21/1970 – Tanglewood (Official)
Vanilla Fudge – You Keep Me Hangin’ On 1967
Vanilla Fudge – You Keep Me Hangin’ On (1967)
The Zombies – She’s Not There 1965
The Zombies – She’s Not There
Supertramp – Dreamer [Official Music Video] 1974
Supertramp – Dreamer [Official Music Video]
Blue Cheer – Summertime Blues (1968)
Blue Cheer – Summertime Blues (1968)
Steely Dan – Dirty Work 1972
Dirty Work
The Young Rascals “Good Lovin'” on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Young Rascals “Good Lovin'” on The Ed Sullivan Show
Elvin Bishop – Fooled around and fell in love (1975)
Elvin Bishop – Fooled around and fell in love (1975)
Spirit – I Got A Line On You 1969
Spirit – I Got A Line On You 1969 – YouTube
Frankenstein . Edgar Winters Group . 1973
Frankenstein . Edgar Winters Group . 1973
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Foxy Lady (Miami Pop 1968)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Foxey Lady (Miami Pop 1968)
The Animals – We Gotta Get Out Of This Place (1965) HD/widescreen
The Animals – We Gotta Get Out Of This Place (1965) HD/widescreen ♫
The Yardbirds – For Your Love (1965) (Full version)
The Yardbirds – For Your Love (1965) (Full version)
The Kinks – You Really Got Me – “The Beat Room” Show (1964)
The Kinks – You Really Got Me – “The Beat Room” Show (1964)
NEW * Sunny Afternoon – The Kinks {Stereo} 1966
NEW * Sunny Afternoon – The Kinks {Stereo} 1966 – YouTube
The Troggs – Wild Thing
The Troggs – Wild Thing
Steppenwolf – Magic Carpet Ride (Version 1969)
Steppenwolf – Magic Carpet Ride (Version 1969)
Deep Purple – Highway Star 1972 Video HQ
Deep Purple – Highway Star 1972 Video HQ
YesSongs #7: YES – Roundabout
YesSongs #7: YES – Roundabout – YouTube
Raspberries – Go All The Way 1972
Raspberries – Go All The Way
Emerson, Lake, & Palmer – From The Beginning
Emerson, Lake, & Palmer – From The Beginning
Joe Cocker – She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (Live)
Joe Cocker – She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (Live) – YouTube
Spencer Davis Group – I’m a Man
Spencer Davis Group – I’m a Man
Alice Cooper – School’s Out (1972) HD 0815007
Alice Cooper – School’s Out (1972) HD 0815007
Boston – More Than a Feeling (Official HD Video)
Boston – More Than a Feeling (Official HD Video)
Kansas – Carry on Wayward Son (Official Video)
Kansas – Carry on Wayward Son (Official Video)
David Bowie – Space Oddity (Official Video)
David Bowie – Space Oddity (Official Video)
Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky (Official Video)
Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky (Official Video) – YouTube
Paul Revere and The Raiders – Kicks
Paul Revere and The Raiders – Kicks
The Standells – Dirty Water
The Standells – Dirty Water
Dave Clark Five – Glad All Over (original video 1963)
Dave Clark Five – Glad All Over (original video 1963)